In a ruling against the Sea Shepherds last week, Kozinski called out the group’s tactics—ramming ships, hurling acid, and similarly violent stunts —for what they are: Piracy on the high seas. He wrote, on behalf of a unanimous panel:

You don’t need a peg leg or an eye patch. When you ram ships; hurl glass containers of acid; drag metal-reinforced ropes in the water to damage propellers and rudders; launch smoke bombs and flares with hooks; and point high-powered lasers at other ships, you are, without a doubt, a pirate, no matter how high-minded you believe your purpose to be.

So, while Judge Kozinski’s ruling may make life and fundraising a bit more difficult for Watson and his acolytes, what does it mean for those who have helped him out in the past? Their number include Wayne Pacelle, boss of the Humane Society of the United States (not to be confused with your local animal shelter), who helped the Sea Shepherds raise money when he worked for the Fund for Animals some years back.

The Discovery Channel recently saw the ugly side of a nutjob with a wacky environmentalist agenda, so it’s bizarre that the station continues to make money off of eco-pirates. Hopefully the execs there will wise up to the not-so-controversial idea that cozying up with Pirate Paul or his crew can backfire in one way or another. As for Barnard and Pacelle, we’ll keep making sure people know that these two smooth-talkers aren’t who they seem.